Numerous studies have shown that the foods we eat have a direct impact on hypertension and overall heart health. A diet built around fresh fruits and vegetables is better than a diet loaded with sugar, sodium, and saturated fat, all three of which should be avoided. However, knowing what to eat is only half the battle. You also need to build good habits and follow through to make sure you actually eat those healthy foods and avoid the temptation of processed foods like chips and other snacks. For many people, that can prove to be far more of a challenge. Grocery store...

Content Warning: This article deals with sensitive subject matter around the topic of suicide. Mental health issues are far more common than many people realize. The Canadian Mental Health Association reports that one in five Canadians will experience a mental health problem in any given year, with a full 50% of the population going through some form of mental illness by the time they hit 40. Unfortunately, the prevalence hasn’t done much to erase the stigma. Half of those battling anxiety or depression have never sought any form of treatment, and it’s easy to see why...

Mental health often manifests without any physical symptoms. This can make it difficult to diagnose, which in turn can make it even more difficult to get a long-term disability claim recognized. Unlike a broken arm or a torn ACL, there’s simply no way to make an irrefutable mental health diagnosis based on an x-ray or an MRI. That’s why getting the support of a medical professional is absolutely essential when filing a long-term disability claim related to your mental health. A trained therapist will be able to corroborate your experience and verify that you have a...

We first met Walter when he was 37 years old. After a year of struggling with his mental health, he was looking for support for himself and his family. He was grateful to have found us, and we were lucky to be a part of his journey. As a truck driver, it was important for Walter to be fully engaged while driving. He was dealing with potentially dangerous situations on a daily basis, and there was little room for error. He had always been confident and focused at his job, but had recently begun to experience bouts of acute anxiety. Tasks that had seemed straightforward to...

It’s hard enough having mental illness, but the prospect of talking about it at work can seem almost too much to bear. While it’s usually straightforward to explain that you need time off for the flu, the stigma around mental illness makes it far more difficult to address symptoms of depression in a similar manner. One of our clients, Sandra, recently experienced this exact scenario. While Sandra’s depression is often controlled by medication and cognitive behavioural therapy, it can fluctuate during particularly challenging life events. Five years ago during a...

When we think of a debilitating condition, we often think of something physical. As a result, mental illnesses often go unattended, ignored, maligned, and sometimes even brushed aside. But according to CAMH – the Center for Addiction and Mental Health – in a given year, 1 in 5 Canadians will experience some form of mental illness. By the time they reach the age of 40, it’s estimated that 1 in 2 Canadians have, or have had, a mental illness. Those numbers are staggering, and cannot be ignored. Postpartum depression is no exception, and, according to the...